A Look Back at 2025
As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the kind of year it was, not just for what happened, but how God met me in it. Like so many of you, this year held moments of joy and sorrow. There were many answered prayers, and many that will go with me into 2026.
Here are a few moments that shaped this season:
Faith & Community
Finding and joining a new church home after much prayer. This community became a place of grounding, healing, and renewed faith.
Stepping into a new role as church office manager, learning to serve behind the scenes and trust God in new ways.
Family Milestones
Celebrating my oldest grandson graduating from high school and beginning his first year of college.
Walking alongside one son as he entered his final year of college.
Celebrating another son completing his homeschooling journey.
Rejoicing as one of my sons got married!
Experiencing a final college football season, marked by a big win and the sobering reality of a concussion, all in the same game!
Work, Creativity & Calling
Serving at over 40 catering events, each one an opportunity to show up faithfully.
Merging my love for cooking and writing into this one creative space, an act of obedience that brought clarity and peace.
Launching new pantry products, including a signature sauce, pancake mix, and Soul Seasoning.
Publishing a poem in support of the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank.
Growth & Stewardship
Completing the Entrepreneur Financial Readiness class through the Akron Urban League.
Receiving a new banner for farmers markets and connecting with a private business banker, unexpected doors that opened at just the right time.
Grief & Ongoing Prayer
Mourning the loss of several dear friends and learning how grief and gratitude can exist together.
Continuing to pray over difficult family situations, trusting God’s timing even when answers feel slow.
Looking back, what stands out most isn’t just what was accomplished, but how present God was through it all.
A Word for This Season
“Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
—2 Corinthians 6:10 (ESV)
This verse feels like a summary of 2025. A reminder that joy doesn’t cancel grief and the existence of grief doesn’t negate God’s goodness. Both can exist in the same heart, in the same season, and under the same faithful God.
As we step toward a new year, I invite you to pause and reflect:
Where did you see God’s faithfulness this year?
What are you still carrying that needs prayer?
What joy surprised you along the way?
If you’re walking through a season that feels like “sorrowful, yet rejoicing,” you’re not alone. I hope you’ll stay connected here as we continue to walk this faith journey together.
If this post encouraged you, feel free to share it with someone who may need permission to hold both grief and joy right now.
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Regina is a writer, former homeschooling mom, and owner of a comfort food catering business. A contributor to several publications, she is also an advocate for young adults with developmental disabilities and serves on the Compel Pro volunteer leadership team. Living in Ohio with her family, she designs Squarespace websites for fellow creatives and spends her free time cheering her sons from the sidelines or sipping tea while chatting about God’s goodness with women.
